A university student contacted Belfast Data Recovery after their WD My Passport external hard drive was dropped and became physically damaged. The reported issues included:
- The hard drive was no longer being recognised by the laptop.
- Clicking and beeping noises were coming from the drive, indicating physical damage.
- The drive contained critical university coursework, research papers, and assignments.
- No backup was available, making data recovery essential.
Since dropping a hard drive can cause mechanical failure, such as damaged read/write heads or platter misalignment, a cleanroom recovery approach was required.
Our Expertise in WD My Passport Hard Drive Recovery
With 25 years of experience, Belfast Data Recovery specializes in:
✔ Recovering data from physically damaged hard drives, including dropped or clicking drives
✔ Cleanroom Repairs for mechanical issues like head crashes and motor failures
✔ Forensic data recovery using Acelabs PC3000, DeepSpar imaging, and Atola Insight Forensic tools
Diagnosis & Recovery Process
Upon receiving the WD My Passport hard drive, our engineers conducted a detailed forensic assessment. The key findings included:
- The drive was spinning but emitting clicking noises, indicating read/write head failure.
- The platters were intact, meaning data recovery was possible.
- The USB interface was functional, but the drive could not read or write data.
To successfully recover the client’s lost files, we implemented a multi-step forensic hard drive recovery strategy:
Step 1: Cleanroom Repair & Drive Stabilization
- Opened the WD My Passport hard drive in a cleanroom.
- Replaced the damaged read/write heads with a donor head assembly.
- Ensured proper platter alignment to prevent further damage.
Step 2: Drive Cloning & Data Preservation
- Used DeepSpar Disk Imager to create a sector-by-sector forensic clone.
- Applied adaptive read techniques to recover data from damaged areas.
Step 3: File System Repair & Data Extraction
- Repaired damaged NTFS/exFAT file system structures to restore missing directories.
- Extracted and validated all university coursework and research papers.
Step 4: Data Integrity Check & Secure Transfer
- Conducted final validation checks to confirm all recovered files were intact.
- Successfully transferred the restored data to a secure external SSD, formatted for client use.
The Result
We successfully recovered 98.9% of the client’s lost university work, including:
✅ Coursework assignments, research papers, and dissertation drafts
✅ PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and spreadsheets
✅ Lecture notes, study materials, and saved university projects
The client was able to resume their studies without losing critical academic work, ensuring no setbacks in their university coursework.
Why Choose Belfast Data Recovery for WD My Passport Hard Drive Recovery?
✅ 25 Years of Expertise – Specialists in dropped and physically damaged hard drives.
✅ Cleanroom Repairs – Safe handling of mechanical hard drive failures.
✅ Forensic Data Extraction – Recovering files even from non-functional drives.
✅ Fast & Secure Process – Ensuring complete confidentiality and successful recovery.
If your WD My Passport hard drive has been dropped, is clicking, or is not being recognized, contact Belfast Data Recovery today for expert data recovery services!